Parking on gravel - avoiding rust

[tmaxx]

I have my RV parked on a gravel pad. I've noticed rust on the underside. Is this just inevitable or should I put down plastic on top of the gravel to keep moisture from evaporating ? Anything other suggestions?

[BFlinn181]

Where are you located? Humidity in the air will cause rusting, not sure that it's all that much more humid in your parking spot than the surrounding area. Plastic on top of the gravel will just slow evaporation, not stop it.

Much of the steel used to form an RV body isn't coated, it can cause more severe damaging rusting than untreated steel that rusts a bit, then the rust forms a barrier to future rust. You could try treating and undercoating everything under your RV, but I think it's a losing battle.

[Waiter21]

If you throw a tarp down, make sure it can drain so water cannot pool on top, otherwise you aggravated the problem.

[Mac99]

Get it paved on be on concrete, or find another place
to store it. The ground will always be high in moisture,
unless you are in the desert.

[Gary RVRoamer]

All good dieas above, but I doubt ifany of them will stop your rusting problem. As long as there is decent ventilation under the rig, ground moisture is probably not your problem. It's plain old humidity and condensation, coupled with a lack of a rust coating on the undersides. Your best bet is to get at it now (before it gets worse) and clean it up and apply an anti-rust compound or coating. Or both. Some POR 15 or similar product should address the existing rust. Then spray on an undercoating to protect it.